Hosts Russia were eliminated from the tournament, as Croatia beat them 4-3 on penalties in Sochi on Saturday to advance to the World Cup semi-finals. The match finished 2-2 after extra time. This is the best result Russia have achieved at the tournament since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

“We cannot ask the people to believe in us, and we said it on day one. We could only make [them] like us by doing [good] work. And now the entire country knows what the Russian national football really are capable of. I hope we changed their minds for the better,” Cherchesov told journalists.

Croatia will next face England at Moscow’s Luzhinki Stadium on Wednesday in the semi-finals.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the final set to be held at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.